Numbers 30 15

Numbers 30:15 kjv

But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.

Numbers 30:15 nkjv

But if he does make them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt."

Numbers 30:15 niv

If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing."

Numbers 30:15 esv

But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity."

Numbers 30:15 nlt

If he waits more than a day and then tries to nullify a vow or pledge, he will be punished for her guilt."

Numbers 30 verses

Numbers 30 15 Meaning

Numbers 30:15 describes a specific legal consequence within the Israelite community concerning a husband's interaction with his wife's vow. If a husband allows his wife's vow to stand by not objecting on the day he hears it, but later decides to annul it, he assumes the spiritual responsibility for the broken vow. In such a scenario, the iniquity or guilt of breaking the vow, which would have originally rested on the wife, is transferred to him. This verse highlights the importance of timely action and the husband's accountable authority within the household concerning religious commitments.

Numbers 30 15 Context

Numbers Chapter 30 details the laws concerning vows and oaths made by individuals, with a specific focus on women. It begins by establishing the universal principle that if a man makes a vow, he must fulfill it (v. 1-2). The chapter then moves to specific cases for women: a single daughter (v. 3-5), a woman betrothed (v. 6-8), and a married woman (v. 9-15). In the cases of daughters and betrothed women, the father or betrothed husband has the authority to annul their vows upon hearing them; otherwise, the vows stand. For a married woman, her husband has the authority to either confirm or annul her vow or binding oath. If he hears it and says nothing on the day he hears it (v. 10-14), he establishes it. Verse 15 is the critical addition: if he remains silent and thereby establishes the vow on the day he hears it, but later decides to annul it, he bears the wife's iniquity. The chapter concludes with a summary of these regulations and the exemption for a widow or divorced woman, who is fully bound by her vows (v. 16). The immediate historical context is Israel at the doorstep of the Promised Land, being given divine laws to govern their social and religious life as a holy nation under God's covenant. These laws were given to ensure order, accountability, and proper reverence for vows made before the Lord.

Numbers 30 15 Word analysis

• But if (wəʾim): This introduces a conditional clause, specifically a negative consequence for a failure to act appropriately. It marks a transition to an alternate scenario that has a distinct outcome.

• he shall indeed annul (hāfēr yāfēr): This is a strong emphatic verbal construction in Hebrew (infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb). It signifies a definite and absolute act of nullification, stressing the husband's decisive action to break or revoke the vow. This emphasizes that he intentionally invalidates it.

• them: Refers to the vows or binding obligations made by the wife, which were the subject of the previous verses.

• afterward (ʾaḥarê): Crucially indicates a delay in time. This action is not taken on "the day he hears them," but at a later point. The delay is the key element leading to the negative consequence.

• after he has heard them: This phrase reinforces that the husband did hear the vows, and therefore had the opportunity to object initially. His inaction at the time of hearing is what legally established the vow (v. 14), making any subsequent annulment problematic.

• then he shall bear her iniquity (nāśāʾ ʿawōnāh):

  • nāśāʾ (bear/carry): This verb often relates to carrying burdens or responsibilities, but critically, in a theological context, it refers to bearing sin or guilt. It is used in Levitical sacrificial law for priests bearing the iniquities of the people or sacrificial animals bearing the iniquity of the offerer (e.g., Lev 10:17, Lev 16:22).
  • ʿawōnāh (her iniquity/guilt/punishment): Refers to the moral fault, guilt, or the punitive consequences that result from wrong actions, especially transgressions against divine law. Here, it refers to the sin or consequences that would have fallen upon the wife for not fulfilling a vow that God considered binding, due to her husband's initial silence. The husband effectively takes on this accountability.
  • The phrase collectively signifies a transfer of accountability and consequences. The husband becomes liable for the sin of the broken vow, not because he committed the original vow, but because his belated annulment after having initially confirmed it violated the established divine protocol and perhaps caused his wife to stumble in a covenant with God. This points to the husband's ultimate responsibility in discerning and governing his household in accordance with divine law.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But if he shall indeed annul them afterward, after he has heard them": This segment outlines the specific scenario. It defines the temporal breach – the husband, having had the opportunity to nullify on the day of hearing and failed to do so, now acts later. His delay implies his tacit agreement or confirmation of the vow (as per Num 30:14), making his subsequent annulment a breaking of an implicit agreement before God. This establishes a precise timeline for action and inaction.
  • "then he shall bear her iniquity": This is the grave consequence. It's a statement of divine judgment. The "iniquity" (guilt/punishment for transgression) associated with the breaking of a vow before God, which would typically fall on the one who made and broke the vow, is transferred to the husband. This underscores the serious spiritual ramifications of leadership negligence and the sanctity of vows made before the Almighty. It's not merely a legal technicality but a matter of moral and spiritual accountability before God, implying that God would hold the husband, not the wife, accountable for that specific sin.

Numbers 30 15 Bonus section

The concept of "bearing iniquity" (Hebrew: nasa' avon) is a profound theological theme throughout the Old Testament. It signifies the responsibility for sin and its consequences. While priests "bore the iniquity of the holy things" (Ex 28:43) and the sin of the people, pointing to their intercessory role and connection to the sacrificial system, the ultimate bearing of iniquity is seen in the suffering servant prophecies (Isa 53:11) fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In this specific context of Num 30:15, the husband's bearing of "her iniquity" is not for atonement for her but refers to God holding him, not her, responsible for the consequences of a vow that was implicitly established through his silence but later nullified by him. It means that God considers him to be the one guilty of breaking the divinely ordered process for handling vows. This serves as a strong reminder of how one's actions, even delayed ones or inaction, can have spiritual ramifications on others within an ordered structure given by God. It also indirectly underlines the covenantal nature of marriage, where the spiritual well-being and actions of one partner can have significant impact on the other and their standing before God.

Numbers 30 15 Commentary

Numbers 30:15 serves as a potent clarification and a serious warning within the Israelite vow laws, emphasizing the gravity of spiritual commitments and the accountability inherent in positions of authority. The verse highlights that a husband's responsibility in his household extends beyond mere physical provision to include spiritual oversight and adherence to divine ordinances. By remaining silent on the day he hears his wife's vow, he essentially validates it before God, turning it into a binding obligation. His subsequent attempt to annul it is viewed as an abrogation of a divinely established bond, leading to the severe consequence of bearing her iniquity. This not only signifies that God holds him accountable for his inconsistent leadership and the ensuing breach of a spiritual oath but also underscores the seriousness with which God views vows made in His name. It teaches that timely and decisive leadership, aligned with divine principles, is crucial to prevent moral or spiritual liabilities from accruing within the family unit.